Somewhere I read that Surratt worked for National Express. I need some dates, but I don't know where to look. Also Charles Cawood worked for National Express -( per Kimberly Cawood,) in 1866. However I can't find National Express in the City Directories. Has anyone looked into the possibility they were there together? HMMMM!
That might lead to something interesting. I have some sickness problems aat home and I don't have tie for research. PLEZ!
I believe you're right, John. Seems I've read that Surratt worked for them also at one time - this is a great question for Laurie....
Louis Weichmann mentions Adams Express in his book, (I checked the index) but I could not find any mention of National Express
Gene and Weichmann are correct. Surratt, Jr. worked briefly for the Adams Express Company. I have never seen National Express mentioned anywhere. However, Surratt's older brother, Isaac, left home on Inauguration Day in 1861, and joined an express company that took him as far west as Texas before he joined the Confederate Army.
We have never known what company that was, but we have our suspicions that it was the one run by Benjamin Ficklin. We have never found a name for Ficklin's company - but we haven't searched that hard either.
Adams Express Co. had offices in Alexandria, Georgetown, Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis. I found a copy of their City Directory Ad and it features "General Express", "North, East South and West". I did not find a "National Express". Based on this, I would say that Cawood worked for Adams Express, as did Surratt. Surratt worked from Dec. 23, '64 to Jan 13, '65. I believe Cawood was still in King George. Thus, they were not at Adams Express at the same time. (Not that Cawood did not visit D.C. during this time - he had a brother in D.C.) I have the Agents and the addresses of the express Companies, if any one needs them.
The National Express Company is mentioned in Wikipedia's article on Thomas L. Rosser. If you scroll down to the section called "Postbellum activities" there is a sentence that says, "Rosser was superintendent of the National Express Company, working for fellow ex-Confederate general Joe Johnston." Perhaps the company didn't have a Washington office?
The National Express Co. was organized Nov. !, 1865, in Richmond, VA, and elected Gen J. E Johnston President. Present at that meeting were, Gen. John Echols, Gen. John D. Imboden, Gen. Samuel P. Moore, Gen John Kemper, Gen. Daniel Ruggles, and Gen. Henry Heth, - showing strong support by Confederates. Thus , with that leadership, and organized in the south, it would favor Confederate Veterans as employees.
The Company was also known as The National Express and Transportation Company. Unfortunately, the Company did not last long, but during its life was in competition with Adams Express and Wells Fargo. The Company's early failure has resulted in limited available information.